Khosrau II

Khosrau II (560-28 February 628) was Shahanshah of the Sassanid Empire from 591 to 628, succeeding Bahram VI and preceding Kavadh II.

Biography
Khosrau was born in 560, the son of Hormizd IV. His father was slain in battle with a rebellious general who became Bahram VI, and in the Sassanid Civil War of 589-591, Khosrau succeeded in defeating Bahram's forces and restored the Sassanids to the monarchy of Persia. Khosrau had a long reign, and in 626 the Persians, Avars, and Slavs besieged the city of Constantinople in the Byzantine Empire, but in 628 he was forced to retreat. The Battle of Nineveh saw Emperor Heraclius destroy his Persian army, and Khosrau suffered a catastrophe. Also during his reign, the Sassanid Empire was condemned to be conquered by Arabs. Muhammad sent a messenger named Abullah ibn Hudhafah as-Sahmi with a letter asking for Khosrau to embrace Islam, but Khosrau tore up the letter, so Muhammad swore his destruction.